In Part 2 of Matt’s conversation with WME executive chairman and TKO CEO Ari Emanuel and TKO president Mark Shapiro, they discuss how the NFL's next rights negotiations will influence the entertainment industry, how the UFC ended up with Paramount and why it almost went to Netflix, and Ari’s relationship with the Rock, David Ellison, and Donald Trump (01:35) ... Show More
Nov 4
Should Netflix Stop Trying to Be YouTube?
Matt is joined by Puck’s Julia Alexander to discuss why Netflix should stop trying to compete with YouTube, the real numbers behind their competition, why YouTube’s engagement dominance shouldn’t be compared to other streaming services, and what traditional Hollywood can and shou ... Show More
39m 31s
Oct 30
Zach Cregger on Comedy and Horror, Swearing Off IP, Pitching J-Law, and Handling Hollywood Power
The Town College Film School is back with a visit to LMU, where Matt sits down with filmmaker Zach Cregger ('Barbarian’, ‘Weapons’, ‘Resident Evil') to discuss his transition from comedy to horror, whether he prefers IP or original material, his philosophy on screenwriting, the b ... Show More
37m 58s
Feb 2024
The Future of Everything With Derek Thompson, Plus UFC 300’s Missing Main Event and the Rock’s Turn With Ariel Helwani
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Derek Thompson to discuss the "future of everything," including health, culture, tech, and sports (3:15). Then Bill talks with Ariel Helwani about the buzz for the upcoming UFC 300 vs. the reality that it might not even be the best card so f ... Show More
1h 55m
Oct 2025
Why Giannis Won’t Be a Knick, UFC’s Latest Boom, the Movie Theater Renaissance, Six Stages of Sean Penn, and ‘One Battle After Another’ With Ariel Helwani and Wesley Morris
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ariel Helwani to discuss whether the Knicks could ever land Giannis Antetokounmpo, Alex Pereira’s dominant win at UFC 320, the future of the UFC, and more! (5:22). Then, Wesley Morris joins to talk about people returning to the movie theater ... Show More
2 h
Aug 2025
The UFC Cashes In, Plus a Truly Riveting 1990s Cowboys Documentary With Ariel Helwani, Cousin Sal, and Bryan Curtis
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ariel Helwani to react to the news of UFC landing a blockbuster streaming deal with Paramount and discuss what it means for the fans, the fighters, and the company (3:01). Then, Bryan Curtis and Cousin Sal join to talk about the new Cowboys ... Show More
1h 41m
Aug 2022
Burning Questions on Media: Streaming’s Summer of Hell, Movie Theater Woes, and CNN’s Risky Pivot
Today’s episode is about the entertainment and media industry’s tumultuous summer, the streaming wars, a come-to-Jesus moment for movie theaters, and a dramatic revamp at CNN—which tells a lot about the state of the news industry. My guest is Matt Belloni, host of the Ringer podc ... Show More
50m 16s